Changes to executive board and IMS

RNS Number : 7231F

Braemar Shipping Services PLC

20 June 2012

 



BRAEMAR SHIPPING SERVICES PLC

20 June 2012

Changes to the Executive Board of Directors of the Company

and Interim Management Statement

Changes to the Executive Board

The board of Braemar Shipping Services PLC ("Braemar", "the Group" or "the Company") is pleased to announce the appointment of James Kidwell as Chief Executive with effect from today. James Kidwell, age 50, is Group Finance Director and has worked for Braemar in that role since June 2002.

He succeeds Alan Marsh, who will retire as chief executive today and from the board on 31^st July 2012. Alan Marsh has, however, agreed to continue to play an active role in the Shipbroking division. In addition, Quentin Soanes, following his appointment as Chairman of the Baltic Exchange, will also retire from the board on 31^st July 2012 but will remain responsible for the Group's Technical, Logistics and Environmental divisions.

Denis Petropoulos continues as group regional director - Singapore, and executive director of Braemar Shipping Services PLC. He is based in Singapore and is also responsible for Braemar's development and marketing initiatives in the East.

Sebastian Davenport-Thomas becomes managing director of the Shipbroking division, having been head of its sale and purchase department for the past five years.

The Group will appoint a new finance director in due course and in the meantime James Kidwell will retain these responsibilities in addition to his new role.

The Chairman of Braemar, Sir Graham Hearne said: "Alan has led Braemar, as a public company, for 11 years with great distinction and has been a significant force in taking the Group to where it is today. We are indebted to him for his enormous contribution and I am delighted that he will still be actively involved in our Shipbroking division."

"Quentin will also take this opportunity to retire from the board after more than 30 years service with Braemar. He has been highly instrumental in the development of the marine and energy services businesses in the Group which will continue to be his primary responsibility. We would like to wish him every success in his role as Chairman of the Baltic Exchange."

"Braemar is doing well in very challenging markets and in James Kidwell we have appointed a top class executive who has over the years developed a deep understanding of all aspects of the business. I have no doubt James will bring the leadership and expertise to maintain our success and manage the next phase of Braemar's growth."

Braemar's outgoing chief executive, Alan Marsh, said: "It is with some sadness that I have decided, as I approach my 63^rd birthday, that this is the time to retire from a role that I have much enjoyed. I am confident that James will be an outstanding successor, and I look forward to continuing to contribute to the Group's success."

The company's new chief executive, James Kidwell, added: "I am looking forward to the challenge of building on the Group's positive momentum. Braemar is a dynamic business, and we have a strong team of people who together offer great potential for the future."

Interim Management Statement

This Interim Management Statement covers the first quarter of the financial year beginning 1 March 2012.

Tanker chartering and dry bulk freight rates have been relatively weak because of the imbalance in tonnage supply in most markets. However, our transaction volumes have continued to grow steadily and there are some areas - in particular in specialised tankers - where we have developed significant new business.  Our offices in Australia and India, which are predominantly dry bulk, have also made a bright start to the year.

The second-hand sale and purchase market has seen higher activity in recent months.  After a period of greater price stability there has been more serious buying interest especially from the more traditional family shipowning companies.

The Technical division has made a strong start particularly Braemar Offshore, our surveying and engineering business in the Far East.  Braemar Engineering has won some good LNG supervision business which will improve its performance in the second half and Braemar Casbarian is seeing more activity in its prime market - the Gulf of Mexico.

The Logistics division is performing well with both UK and Singapore ship agency business gaining ground.

The Environmental division has had a strong first quarter continuing in the same vein as the final quarter of last year with its clear-up work on the MV RENA off the coast of New Zealand which commenced in October 2011.  Activity on the project is likely to slow in the second half as the wreck removal gets underway.

Overall the performance of the Group is in line with the board's expectations.

ENDS

For further information, contact:

Braemar Shipping Services
Alan Marsh	Tel [phone]
James Kidwell	Tel [phone]
Pelham Bell Pottinger
Damian Beeley	Tel [phone]
Zoe Pocock	Tel [phone]
Elaborate Communications
Sean Moloney	Tel [phone]
Westhouse Securities
Dermot McKechnie	Tel [phone]
Henry Willcocks	Tel [phone]

Notes to editors

Braemar Shipping Services plc is a leading international provider of broking, consultancy, technical and other services to the shipping, marine and energy industries. The business is organised into the following segments:  Shipbroking, Technical, Logistics and Environmental. It is listed on the Official List of the London Stock Exchange in the Industrial Transport sector.

Principal businesses:

Shipbroking

Braemar Seascope provides chartering, sale and purchase and consulting shipbroking services to international ship owners, charterers and financial institutions operating in the tanker, gas, chemicals, offshore, container and dry bulk markets. There are shipbroking offices in the UK, China, Australia, Singapore, India, Italy and Monaco.

www.braemarseascope.com

Technical

Braemar's Technical division provides a range of specialist marine services to the maritime sector. The business operates under the brand name Braemar Technical Services and the activities of the division are as follows:

-     Braemar Adjusting provides specialist loss adjusting and other expert services to the energy (oil and gas), marine, power and other related industrial sectors. It has offices in London, Houston, Singapore, Calgary, and Rio de Janeiro.

-     Braemar Offshore provides specialised marine and offshore services mainly performing pre-risk marine warranty surveys. It has offices in the UK, Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam.

-     Braemar incorporating The Salvage Association ("Braemar SA") provides marine consultancy and surveying services to the shipping, energy, offshore and insurance industries. The Salvage Association was acquired on 9 May 2011 and it has a network of offices in Asia, Europe and the US that undertake marine damage surveys for the insurance industry.

-     Braemar Engineering provides consultant marine engineering and naval architecture services to the shipping and offshore markets from offices throughout the Far East and London. Braemar Engineering was expanded with the acquisition of Braemar Casbarian in July 2011 which provides consulting engineering services mainly to the offshore industry in the Gulf of Mexico from offices in New Orleans, Houston and Trinidad.

www.braemar.com

Logistics

Cory Brothers Shipping Agency provides port agency, freight forwarding and logistics services within the UK and Singapore.

www.cory.co.uk

Environmental

Braemar Howells provides pollution response and advisory services primarily in the UK and Africa and is continuing to develop an international presence. It has earned an international reputation for its work for the insurance industry in handling the containers from stricken vessels - the MSC Napoli in 2007 and the RENA which is on-going in New Zealand.

www.braemarhowells.com

 

END

 

 

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